Its actually not too odd to bring up Talcahuano, an industrial town and one of the biggest ports in Chile, as an easy daytrip from Concepcion. Talcahuano is definitely different, atmospheric and interesting in its own way, often of the so-bad-it's-good variety, especially in the center and by the waterside, with some nicer touches in a few pockets in the hills. There is not much port-type atmosphere per se but there is not much port-type atmosphere anywhere these days. The somewhat Valparaisoesque hill barrios, some poor some ... (more)